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E. N. PORTER.

COMBINED 10E GREEPER AND HEEL PLATE. No. 800,006. Patented June 10, 1884.

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EDWARD N. PORTER, OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT, ASSIGN OR OF TVVO-THIRDS TO LORENZO G. BURNHAM AND JONAS G. REED, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINED ICE-=CREEPER AND HEEL-PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. O0,006, dated June 10, 1884.

Application filed March :2, 188-1.

(No model.)

State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Ice-Creeper and Heel-Plate Combined, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Myinvention relates to improvements in an ice-creeper combined with a metallic heelplate, the former being so pivoted to the latter that for service it can be readily turned back within the heel-plate, and thus expose two or 1 5 more projecting sharp points, which lie directly beneath the weight upon the heel; otherwise it is designed to lie flat upon the forward portion of the heel, with its points projecting over and resting tightly against the front edge of the heel, and thus present a smooth metallic surface, which protects the heel from wear 5 and the objects of my improvements are, first, to secure simplicity in the arrangement of my device, so that its practical efficiency will not be impeded by the presence of snow or dirt upon the heel; second, to secure compactness and strength of construction by the use of a cross- .bar, which binds the side plates together, and thus effectually prevents their spreading, and at the same time forms a substantial and reliable support for the creeper, which enables it to more successfully resist any undue pressure or force to which it is constantly subject. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Eigure 1 is a perspective view of a boot-heel with my device attached thereto, the points of the creeper being turned against the front edge of the heelthe position which it occupies when not in use. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the same when the creeper is folded back in position for service. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the heel-plate and cross-bar, showing the manner of pivoting the creeper directly above the spring which rests in the slotted cross-bar. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cree'per standing vertically, and showing moreclearly the pivots on which it turns. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cross-bar, the position of the spring being in- 50 dicated by dotted lines.

Similar letters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

A is a metallic rim or heel-plate, its form being adapted to the exterior shape of the heel of a boot or shoe, to the bottom of which it is firmly attached, preferably by means of the screws a a. Its sides are bound together by the metallic cross-bar B, which is designed to fit tightly into a slot which extends across the heel, and form a solid support for the pivotal 6o portion of the creeper 0. Its extremities b 12, according to the width of the sides of the heelplate A, which rests upon them, are designed to project slightly above the level surface of the heel, and thus form shoulders, which are 6 5 made to closely fit into corresponding depressions in the heel-plate, through which screws a pass, thus connecting the parts firmly together and with the heel, and at the same time form solid bearings for the pivots d d of the creeper G, which rests upon the shoulders I) b when in position. Between the ends I) b of the bar B extends a slot, as seen in Fig. 5, a support only being reserved at the lower part of each eX- tremity of the slot to sustain the ends of the curved flat metallic spring 6, Fig. 3, and which is more fully indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. The position of this spring can be inverted; but I prefer that shown in the drawings. The open space f beneath the central 8o portion of the spring, formed by carrying the slot entirely through the bar B, is purposely designed to receive any accumulation of snow or dirt around the creeper, which might otherwise impede the freedom of movement or elas- 5 ticity of the spring. On the inside of the heelplate, directly above the center of the ends I) b of the cross-bar B, are recesses g, to receive the pivots (Z of the creeper C, so that when the latter is in position it is firmly supported without 9 being subjected to a greater pressure than the heel-plate, while its lower edge rests upon the upper surface of the spring. Thus it is always retained firmly in place, whether folded back within the sides of the heel-plate for service or otherwise.

Thus constructed, every portion of the dc vice is securely attached together and is guarded against every undue strain or weight. The pivotal portion of the creeper is reliably sus- I 0 tained through its entire length. The spring, being of the simplest character and thoroughly protected, is not liable to be easily affected by rust, wear, or accident, while the points of the creeper, when it is folded bacl; for service, being separated and distributed across that portion of the heel which more naturally bears the pressure of the body, hold the foot more easily and firmly, and when not in use they do not require, by being folded forward, any special cavities to be made in the front edge of the heel for their reception, but are simply made to press tightly against the forward edge of the heel, and thus leave a smooth metallic surface for the heel to stand upon.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. I11 combination with the heel-plate A, the

slotted crossbar ]3, spring 0, and creeper G, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The ice-creeper O, pivoted in recesses g in the heel-plate A, and firmly supported by the ends Z) Z and spring 0 of the cross-bar I3, and designed, when in use, to be folded back within the sides of the heel-plate aud'expose two or more projecting points, and when not used to be folded forward, so that its points shall rest tightly against the front edge of the heel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I do affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDIVARD N. PORTER. lVitnesscs:

CHARLES E. ALLEN, Var. H. H. CONNER. 

